Original article "It’s Time to Get Real About Romans 13 on July 4th" found at Altar and Throne, a Christian Anarcho-Capitalist collective.
Whenever a Christian insists that the rule of the state be eclipsed by just, fair (and thus non-coercive) governance, the inevitable refrain from a number of statist Christians is the simplistic mantra, “Romans 13!” It’s as if such a proclamation a divinely sealed and signed bludgeon that needs only a single mention to melt away the multitidinous critiques of human power throughout the holy corpus of scripture.
Well, it’s time to get real about that. Not only does such an unreflective, prima facie interpretation become a frighteningly horrendous doctrine serving as a de facto condemnation of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who stood up in the face of the monstrous figure of Hitler, but it also becomes untraceably confusing and self-contradictory when the power balance shifts and new governments form in rebellion.
It’s all fine and well when the power above you sits comfortably content in its roost, with no significant contenders for its political authority, to insist that authority qua authority is to be obeyed simply for what it is, unless and until the gospel is being preached, or a handful of rules are broken. But it’s quite another when one is not even sure which authority to obey!
"Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and you will be commended. For the one in authority is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for rulers do not bear the sword for no reason. They are God’s servants, agents of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also as a matter of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God’s servants, who give their full time to governing. Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor." ~Romans 13:1-7
Is the U.S. government, under the purview of Romans 13, divinely sanctioned? If so, then at what moment did it gain such a status? The Declaration of Independence proclaimed that the colonies would now be self-governing, and the monarchy thrown off. Was this a legitimate claim? If so, then even rebellion can be divinely sanctioned, and the unthinking layman’s interpretation of Romans 13 is thrown into confusion.
Should the Christian colonists have obeyed the Crown and remained Loyalists, or rebelled and joined the signers of the Declaration, and become Revolutionaries? Was it evil to align oneself with the Articles of Confederation? Which governing body was divinely sanctioned, and if both, which should they have chosen?
Or perhaps Christians should not have become involved at all. But this is an anachronism. Colonists were commanded by the Crown to offer refuge for British soldiers. Surely this is not, on its face, a violation of God’s commands. But if one were to pledge loyalty to the colonist separatists, they would have to refuse. And if they did not refuse, they would by their very action be exercising loyalty unto the Crown. What’s a saint to do?
Or maybe it’s time to admit that the simplistic, unstudied reading of Romans 13 just doesn’t work. We have to delve deeper into the text to understand exactly what Paul was getting at, and what deeper theological streams he was drawing off of.
Perhaps on this holiday, especially under such an out-of-control, off-the-rails tyranny that Americans live under today, more Christians will think more seriously about the relationship between divine ordinance and earthly power.
This has been a deconstructive argument tearing down typical interpretations of Romans 13. Stay tuned for articles exploring the real theological and contextual meaning of that passage in the future.
It's incredibly awesome to me to read this article because I've been saying the exact same thing for the last couple of years. If we are to quote Romans 13 now, why don't we think about the American fight for independence and it's lack of loyalty to the English throne? This article actually reminded me of the Quartering Acts and made me think of the concept found in Matthew 5:41 where Christians are not only to do what we are asked, but to actually do more than we are asked to.
I've started some issues on facebook in the past about about these topics, but this year I've decided to stay low-key. However, I've seen there are some people here that may like this viewpoint.
These are great and valid questions which have troubled me for a long time too.
A few observations:
It would seem that we generally retain the option to leave the jurisdiction of an unacceptable government but are obligated to obey it while we live under its jurisdiction.
Except for Americans. There is no place where we can go on this planet to be free.
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The normal translations of Romans 13 are naive at best, and outright malicious at worst (remember that the original translations of the Bible to English were state-funded). This article is a bit long, but it's an excellent analysis which looks not only at the Greek in Romans 13, but also brings up the wider context of Jewish law, which Paul's original audience (at least the Jews therein) would have been familiar with. That context helped them understand what Paul meant.
That article is a must-read if you are concerned with integrating Romans 13 with anarchy. Or if you're just concerned about understanding Romans 13 when the modern translations seem to tell us Hitler was God's agent for good.
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Wow. What an excellent article. I must study this a lot more.
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Remember, we have no king in The United States (God created People and People created the Constitution, constitution created Government,) the only authority that has a right to rule are the founding documents (that declare our unalienable rights,) any rule legislators or executives make at the state or national level must be in harmony with the Bill Of Rights, and ultimately the courts and jurors (We The People) decide what is what... and if someone is found guilty of a wrong doing that is not protected by the Bill Of Rights, at that point, The Sheriff is dispatched...The Sheriff is jailer and executioner, he is the one the wrong doers fear...
For this reason I prefer this translation:
1Let [a]every [b]soul be subject unto the higher [c]powers: [d]for there is no power but of God: and the powers that be, are [e]ordained of God.
2 Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist, shall receive to themselves condemnation.
3 [f]For Magistrates are not to be feared for good works, but for evil. [g]Wilt thou then be without fear of the power? do well: so shalt thou have praise of the same.
4 For he is the minister of God for thy wealth: [h]but if thou do evil, fear: for he beareth not the sword for nought: for he is the minister of God to [i]take vengeance on him that doeth evil. -Romans 13:3
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Romans+13&version=GNV
Magistrates are judges - and in this country, jurors :
It may not be amiss, here, Gentlemen, to remind you of the good old rule, that on questions of fact, it is the province of the jury, on questions of law, it is the province of the court to decide. But it must be observed that by the same law, which recognizes this reasonable distribution of jurisdiction, you have nevertheless a right to take upon yourselves to judge of both, and to determine the law as well as the fact in controversy. On this, and on every other occasion, however, we have no doubt, you will pay that respect, which is due to the opinion of the court: For, as on the one hand, it is presumed, that juries are the best judges of facts; it is, on the other hand, presumable, that the court are the best judges of law. But still both objects are lawfully, within your power of decision-The State of Georgia v. Brailsford, et al.
February Term, 1794
The Bible is full of historical people seemingly acting in righteous resistance, in defiance of rulers and kings; David fled from Saul, Gideon hid wheat from the Midianites, and though they faithfully served their captor; Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego drew the line at violating the law of their god...resistance is not violence...
Careful reading of the grievances against King George indicate a lack of badly needed local judicial action on his part as well as the heavy burden of quartering the English troops and not being paid for it, and still being taxed on top of it all, all of this sounds like King George was found guilty of injustice; God hates injustice...
I cannot recall any open violent rebellion against standing rulers being undertaken by God's people...I think God himself does the initiating of it i.e. the Isrealites in Egypt; God himself must declare judgement against a power for it to fall... it seems that repentance and prayer are the only keys to God freeing his people -from their own doing... read: Deuteronomy 28
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Nice article. Coincidentally, while you were writing it, I was writing something similar...
When Powers Collide
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Here's a cross-link to my related series.
Bearing the Sword
Loophole One
Loophole Two
I have linked from there to here as well.
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Upvoted you
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